Why Minnesota Twins Are One of MLB’s Least Watchable Teams

[Cody Christie]

The Twins have been a train wreck to start the season. Are they the kind you even rubberneck at, or something so generically tragic that you can't not look away?

 

Image courtesy of © Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

Earlier this week, ESPN's David Schoenfield released his annual rankings of MLB teams according to their watchability. For the rankings, he considered five categories (worth 10 points each), including star power, young talent, baserunning, defense, minutiae, and a bonus section. Minutiae includes items like ballpark, uniforms, mascots, broadcasters, colorful characters, etc. Bonuses were up to Schoenfield and tied to fun traits he wanted to reward.

The Twins finished 27th on his list with 14 points, putting them ahead of only the White Sox, Rockies, and Marlins. After a rough start to the season, many Minnesota fans likely view the team as unwatchable. From a national perspective, there is even less reason to watch the Twins. Let’s explore each of the categories to see how he ranked the Twins.

Star Power (3 Points)
Three points seems like a generous score for the Twins’ star power. Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton are the team’s two biggest stars, but both have struggled out of the gate. Correa played at an All-Star level in 2024 before plantar fasciitis sidelined him for nearly the entire second half. Buxton was on a trajectory to be one of baseball’s biggest stars, but injuries have hampered his entire career. 

Other players, including Pablo López and Royce Lewis, are also in the conversation for helping the team’s star power. López has played at an All-Star level during parts of his Twins tenure. However, there have been inconsistencies in his performance that have prevented him from solidifying himself as the team’s ace. Lewis has shown the ability to carry the team’s lineup, but he’s missed more time than Buxton in recent years. He has the chance to be the team’s biggest star, but he needs to be on the field to do so. Bizarrely, the team's stars draw your attention mostly for the feeling that they should be more star-like than they really are. 

Young Talent (2 points)
Two is a fair score for where the Twins sit with young talent, though they seem to have lots of upside from there. Brooks Lee is the only former top prospect under 25 on the roster right now. He missed the start of the season with back problems, an issue he will need to monitor throughout his career. There is a chance for other top prospects to impact the roster later this season, including Emmanuel Rodriguez and Luke Keaschall. Walker Jenkins could significantly increase this score for the Twins, but he’s on the injured list and seems unlikely to debut in 2025. 

On the mound, the Twins have two starters in their age-25 season or younger. Simeon Woods Richardson and David Festa are former top-100 prospects, but they aren't exciting enough players to get non-Twins fans to tune into games. Zebby Matthews is also waiting in the wings at Triple-A St. Paul, and his improvements have been exciting for fans to follow. His fastball has increased into the high 90s, and he’s been nearly unhittable this spring. Twins fans are excited about the team’s future, but that excitement won’t translate to the national level unless and until someone like Matthews or Festa starts racking up strikeouts and scoreless innings in the majors. 

Baserunning (1 Point)
In recent years, the Twins have been one of baseball’s worst baserunning teams. Last season, they tied for 25th with -8 Baserunning Runs. Only three teams ranked lower than Minnesota in Baserunning Holds (-20 runs), and their -14 runs in Thrown Outs were the worst in the league. They managed to make unnecessary outs, in other words, even without being aggressive. In 2025, Buxton has saved the Twins on the bases, as he has been worth 1 Baserunning Run by himself. Minnesota is tied for third in MLB with 2 Baserunning Runs. Only the Mets and the Cubs rank higher than the Twins. Even with Buxton’s elite running ability, though, the rest of the Twins are slow, bringing down the team’s overall baserunning score. If we could promise Schoenfield that Buxton would stay healthy and keep stealing bags, maybe the rating would be better, but no one is in position to do that.

Defense (2 Points)
Minnesota lost their best defender in 2024 when Carlos Santana left for free agency—and perhaps the fact that their best defender played first base is telling, in itself. The Twins targeted Harrison Bader in free agency because of his strong defensive reputation. He’s lived up to that billing, with his 2 OAA leading the team’s outfield group. Buxton also continues to be a strong defender in center field, and Bader provides insurance if Buxton is forced to miss significant time.

In the infield, Correa leads the team with 2 OAA, a strong start for a player known for strong defense. Ty France is stepping into Santana’s big defensive shoes and has provided 1 OAA at first base. Willi Castro (-4 OAA) and Jose Miranda (-2 OAA) have been the team’s most significant defensive liabilities in 2025. Minnesota’s outfield defense has a chance to be very exciting, and should boost the team’s watchability, but Schoenfield is right to remain skeptical based on what the club has shown so far. 

Minutiae (3 Points)
For minutiae, the Twins have some strong positives, with one of baseball’s best ballparks and a strong television broadcast crew. Target Field has seen low attendance to start the year, which makes even watching on TV a bit less thrilling, but the ballpark continues to hold up with the organization making improvements. Cory Provus and Justin Morneau are a potent one-two punch on the television side, and the other color commentators add other layers to the broadcast. 

Minnesota recently updated its uniforms, with mixed reviews. Many fans enjoy the cream-colored Twins Cities ensemble. The club’s City Connect jerseys have added ties to the state’s Land of 10,000 Lakes moniker. This season, the team listened to fans and updated their City Connect uniforms by switching to white pants instead of blue. Last season, the team’s Rally Sausage added another level of fun, but there aren’t many colorful characters on the roster this season.

Bonus (3 Points)
Schoenfield gave the Twins bonus points for Prince Day, Joe Ryan’s four-seamer, and for having players with the first names Harrison, Bailey, and Griffin. Some of the bonus areas he missed are Jhoan Duran’s splinker, Matt Wallner’s tape-measure home run potential, and Woods Richardson’s long name on the back of his jersey.

Overall, the Twins' ranking feels fair. They have been unwatchable, even for the team's fans. However, some areas on the club could fare better later this season, including the team’s young talent, baserunning, and defense. 

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What traits make the Twins watchable this season? Do you agree with the point totals above? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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[Patzky]

Winning cures all 

[tony&rodney]

They were fun to watch (mostly) last night.

[Ricky Vaughn]

I still watch most games, but find myself picking up a book and reading after a couple innings. I leave the TV on and watch if anything happens.

[CRF]

I'm a glutton for punishment...I watch. 

[rationalfan]

I was just thinking about this a couple of days ago.  Until the Falvine regime, the mid-market (could have been considered small market in Metrodome) Twins ran the bases well, fielded well, and did in general did little things well.  That did 2 things.  One, it raised the floor of the team day-to-day: they infrequently gave away games to the other team.  Two, it made the team fun to watch even if the opponent had more talent.  It was a point of pride when Ozzie Guillen referred to a group of our players as piranhas. 

By the end of Terry Ryan's tenure, the term "The Twins Way" had become a derogatory term, but now I'd trade the current way for that way.  This way is theoretically built to optimize wins per analytics, but it's only fun if you're winning...a lot.  I also worry now that they've focused too much on a type and that other teams are better at scouting that common type of player.  The best lineups, the ones that are usually winning the pennants like the Red Sox, Astros, Braves, Dodgers, Phillies, D-Backs, are the ones with a diverse lineup of good hitters that have to be scouted and pitched to individually and that can produce runs even when the ball isn't going over the fence and they don't sacrifice baserunning and fielding for a few more walks and dingers.

[mikelink45]

This is not about the tried and true Twin fans till death - there are not enough of us to fill the stadium.  It is about TV, the general public and our choices.  I have to admit I would rather be hiking, canoeing, skiing and I prefer radio. But I still watch and try to follow every day.  BUT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> this team is not fun.  

They do not play with enthusiasm so how can the fans be enthusiastic.

Bonehead plays like Miranda, pitchers unable to throw to bases (we do pay them to throw) and poor defense, no speed, no power, no real stars.  Sorry but Buxton is okay, but not a superstar and never will be.  It is not just his injuries.  His power is offset by his strikeouts, his defense is not what it was and he just is not someone I count on.  He is great a few games - just okay most.

Correa is making the Giants and Mets look smarter as they turned him down for leg issues.  And now the wrist is impacting him.  Excellent play potentially, but another TD post showed how he has diminished each year and now we have to have Castro at SS.

Lewis is like so many of our prospects.  Can Kiriloff get him a job selling real estate?  

Power, speed. great pitching draws fans.  We just don't have anything that pushed the envelop in any of those lanes.  I think Zebby has a following - maybe it is just his name, but if I was the Twins I would get him up and promote him like crazy.  

Right now the Wild and the Timberwolves are in the playoffs and the Twins are in the doldrums.  So what is the incentive for the noncommitted?  

[Whitey333]

They are pretty unwatchable but being a life long Twins fan I still watch.  They are a boring baseball team.  They don't hit many Homer's.  They don't steal that many bases or run the bases well in general.  They play poor fundamental baseball.  Their defense is bad.  Their starting pitchers in general are OK but the bullpen is way overrated.  They seem to have very little enthusiasm or sense of urgency.  They have a very poor manager surrounded by mediocre players.  They have way too many injuries.  Their "superstar" players are grossly overpaid and very underperformed.  Their young core players they keep hyping are just that:  over-hyped proving only that they are not good enough to take the team to the next level.  Other than that, they are fine.  And yes I will be watching them today.  I'm still a Twins fan at heart.  It just kills me to see how awful they have become.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I know the answer to this one!

It's all the losing.

[Trov]

I think part of what the comments have address is how the team has changed to a slower three true outcome type team.  I personally find that style of play boring.  When I feel the was most exciting to watch was during the early 2000's run, I was too young for the WS years to really pay attention. 

I loved watching the highlight defense that Hunter and others would put up.  We were on web gems on a daily.  Then we would score runs by hitting the ball in play for hits and not just hoping for HR out of the whole line up. 

I get what is determined as winning baseball has changed, and the players and manager job is to win games, not create an entertaining product for fans, but the purpose of the game is to entertain us. Winning will get more eyes on the team, but winning ugly still is ugly baseball.  Watching the team throw the ball around for errors, and having terrible weak at bats over and over just gets old. 

[PDX Twin]

I have only watched a few innings this year. I often follow on Gameday when I'm doing something else because I've loved the Twins since Pedro Ramos pitched the opener, but for me unwatchable is exactly the correct adjective.

[CRF]

Whaddaya mean "least watched"...they were on Fox 9 locally last night!🤪

[Twinsrtheworst]

I watch and honestly doesn't affect me that some poll says they are unwatchable.  Also I been hearing that "they" over hype our players and prospects. My genuine question is, who is "they"?  

[Patzky]

Didn't age well. What an entertaining day game, and a  good end to boot!

[KirbyDome89]

42 minutes ago, se7799 said:

I watch and honestly doesn't affect me that some poll says they are unwatchable.  Also I been hearing that "they" over hype our players and prospects. My genuine question is, who is "they"?  

Primarily Twins media, but it trickles down to the fans. Homerism isn't unique to MN, but it feels like deflection when you're scuffling through what should be a window of contention. The on field product has oscillated between poor and painfully mediocre for most of the last 4+ seasons. 

[Twinsrtheworst]

17 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

Primarily Twins media, but it trickles down to the fans. Homerism isn't unique to MN, but it feels like deflection when you're scuffling through what should be a window of contention. The on field product has oscillated between poor and painfully mediocre for most of the last 4+ seasons. 

You got some good points about the past 4 years.  I'm not a resident of Minnesota, so I dont hear much of the local media there,that makes sence.  I do watch alot of Twins baseball and spend a month or so at Spring training and visit the minors throughout the year.  So I definitely don't put much stock in media reports about prospects.  Can usually watch players and prospects and have a decent feel for there talent...though that rarely equals success. Thanks for the response.

[Craig Arko]

The other thing is for some of us, channel 1261 just doesn’t flow off the tongue easily.

[Sjoski]

It's why I call them the Minne-sorta Twins. 

Sorta a big league team, Sorta not.

[dxpavelka]

12-7:  Problem solved

 

[Lartwinfan]

Twins fan since 61. Ups and downs yea downer right now

By the way, how many hamstring injuries have we seen running to 1st, early in the game. Aren’t they warming up this hammies?

[Doctor Wu]

17 hours ago, Patzky said:

Didn't age well. What an entertaining day game, and a  good end to boot!

Yes, more exciting games like the one from today (minus the Jax meltdown) and the Twins will suddenly be fun to watch again!

[LambchoP]

The problem I can't wrap my head around is the injuries. We've got like 5 guys with pulled hamstrings. Do they not stretch before the game? These are supposedly professional athletes in their 20's and they can't run to first base without pulling something. I know injuries are part of the game, but it seems they are an even bigger part of the Twin's game since our "best" players are also the most injury prone. Since we will never have Buxton, Correa and Lewis in the lineup together for long periods of time, we will never see the true potential of what could have been. Durability is a skill, and ownership needs to start scouting for it